Author: Suzanne Franklin

No question, there is a lot of political tension out there since the most recent Presidential election. These days, it seems like the gap between conservatives and liberals grows bigger and bigger every year. And, unfortunately, their differences have led to physical harm, emotional abuse, and name calling on both sides.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. We’re adults here. We can act like it

We can maturely handle awkward conversations that turn political when we would instead not “go there”? We can manage differences of opinion respectfully without escalating things and sincerely admire those that think differently from us even if we don’t agree. All it takes is to keep the following points in mind.

If you are one of those folks that have strong, deeply rooted beliefs in one party system but is neighbors or friends with people who starkly disagree with you – yet you want to get along – this post is for you!

First, Realize That We Probably Have More In Common Than We Think

Look, regardless of which ‘side’ you’re on, chances are you probably agree with your friend or neighbor on at least a few things:
• You love your country
• Homeland safety is good for everyone
• Everyone wins when families are self-sufficient and can thrive economically
• A well-educated population tends to result in a more prosperous society
• When we all respect and follow the law (i.e. play by the same rules), fewer people get hurt or taken advantage of, and it’s a fair playing field for everyone
• You probably agree on a lot more too…

Yes, of course, we don’t agree on other big issues. But if we focus first on where we have common ground with people, we tend to let our guard down a little and listen without judgment, knowing that we really all want this country to prosper.

Don’t Try to Prove Anyone Wrong…Unless You Thrive On Personal Conflict and Drama

‘”Oh, you’re right, I should totally change my mind based on the fact that you disagree,” said no one ever. Even if you have facts to back up your point of view, most likely, the person stating their opposite perspective isn’t interested. Today, a lot of people have their minds made up and trying to force your beliefs onto them is not going to bode well for you.

Instead, listen. It’s ok to admit you don’t agree, but try to do so respectfully. Like “Hey, that’s a valid point. I don’t necessarily share your sentiment, but it sounds like you’ve done your research.” And, then, if they seem to be receptive, it’s probably safe to go ahead and share your own experience or research to shed some new light on the matter.

Don’t be that guy/gal

Keep your cool and stick with the facts. If you have publicly known facts that dispute a claim or shed light on a subject, share that…respectively, and sans the sarcasm or insults. Putting other people down because they don’t agree with you isn’t going to take the conversation anywhere. It’s just going to make people on both sides defensive and closed-minded.

Realize That You Might Have Something to Learn Yet

Most of us can be so pig-headed to believe we’re always right and have all the facts…but we don’t, that would be impossible. Even journalists who report on politics for a living don’t know it all!

There is always something new to learn – a fresh perspective to hear – a breaking story to come across.

If you approach heated political conversations with an open mind, ready to learn something new, rather than assuming you know it all, you might actually go, figure, learn something new.

You’ll also gain instant respect from others because they’ll see you’re a reasonable, mature person who waits for all the information before formulating an opinion and doesn’t just assume everyone outside your political party is always wrong or misinformed.

Finally, Find The Joy In Diversity

You probably will not agree on a political discussion with someone who has very opposing views as you. Most likely, you can’t convince them to change their opinions or their view of the world. However, you can help them think more carefully, and that’s valuable. There is joy in the exchange of ideas, even those that are in opposition. There is enlightenment in the simple understanding of another’s perspective. There is wisdom in letting differences bring diversity into the world. So, let’s prepare ourselves to listen to things we do not like. Let’s enjoy looking to someone whose ideas are at odds with ours, knowing that new perspectives make us stronger and wiser.

Take to heart these tips for approaching tense political discussions more amicably, and soon you’ll find that even the most uncomfortable talks with friends and neighbors can become pleasant and even enlightening if you’re open to it.

Everyone knows the importance of voting in the big elections — the president every four years, our congressmen every six years, and your representatives every two years. But a far less percentage of people regard voting in local elections as necessary, which doesn’t quite make sense, as it is at the local level that some of the most important decisions are made. Here are, arguably, the top five most important offices you should be voting for when it comes to elections in your area.

Number 1: Mayor

Now, this first one may seem like it’s a bit obvious, but your local mayor’s office can often be the first port of call if you have a problem somewhere in your area. At some point, a majority of local issues will cross the mayor’s desk, looking for approval for the idea, a question for budget reasons, or simply whether to ask the mayor what they think. In many areas, the mayor controls the local council meetings, often deciding which issues are brought up during these, and controlling the agenda. It is vital in these sorts of cases that the person that holds this position is someone you trust to get the job done, and someone you believe you can rely upon. Many local elections for mayors are often between two or three people, and one of these is usually the incumbent mayor. It doesn’t take too long to have a look to see what he or she has done in the area, and question if this is the sort of agenda you want for your area.

Number 2: School Board

Education is widely covered in the news these days, and a lot of it seems to be around the funding of schools and university students. But the important thing is to know who is in charge of the schools in your area in the first place. Your local school board will probably be around 12 people who decide how education in your area works, and how large an area a school board covers differs from state to state. It is important to vote for the people going on your school board, especially since they control school funding and the curriculum in your area. which means that these people essentially control what your child learns when they go to school. This duty gives them influence over an important part of life, and these boards have to be appropriately elected to ensure that they are learning what you think are the most important things are, and holding these board to account via the elections that are held is the best way for you to have your say on both how you feel your child is learning, as well as how well you think your school is being run overall.

Number 3: Sheriff

The reason why the sheriff is so low down the list is just that there is a lot of variation from state to state as to the powers of the sheriff. But in the places where they are the most powerful, the sheriff election is one which you cannot afford to miss. In charge of law enforcement in some places, sheriffs are elected by county and are quite likely to be the person you are placing your safety in the hands of should you ever be the victim of a crime. Sheriff elections are essential in this regard, as they handle the management of all crimes in a particular area. Key exceptions are if you hail from Alaska or Connecticut, where counties and county governments do not apply, or if you are from Hawaii, where the sheriff is appointed.

Number 4: Auditor

If you want your local government held accountable, there is no better person outside of you the voter than your local government auditor. Again, powers of an auditor vary from state to state, and one of the most powerful audit offices is in the state of Ohio. Essentially, the auditor checks the spending records of your local government, checking the financial assets to make sure that everything is in order, and there is no misuse of funds or embezzlement happening within government departments. The auditor has to know his way around financial systems, and there is no better way of choosing a competent and independent auditor than by voting one in. Some auditors also have responsibilities in property valuations and can also help you with local tax laws.

Number 5: Recorder

We come to number five, and the recorder will probably be one of the most helpful people you will need in public office. With the official title of Recorder of Deeds, this person looks after all the local records and documents of a county, including important things to you such as housing deeds. Essentially, this person is the one to go to if you need to establish your rights over property, and to protect these rights with the proof that you do indeed own what you say you do. By electing someone here, you can make sure that this person is helpful, open, and makes sure that all documents make their way to the allocated person whenever they are needed.

That wraps up this short list of five local offices that you should go out and vote for. Though some are overlooked, every elected official in your local area is someone who makes your community work and keeps it functioning in a way that allows everything to carry on as usual. Without these local officials, life would be much harder. It would be harder to fix things, to prove things, and most importantly, nothing would get done without the multitude of locally elected officials who work tirelessly to serve and help your community. It is important in these times to make sure that the person you vote in is up to the task, and that you vote in the best person for the job.

When it comes to moving from one place to another, it can be quite complicated and distressing. For some families, it could be chaotic in all aspect starting from the house to move into, having to furnish the home, and more importantly, if you have a child or children, it would be more difficult to getting them the right school to settle into.

While it could be a time of adventure, it also comes with a lot of confusion. As such, I have decided to provide you with a guide that would ease you the stress that comes with selecting a school in a new environment. I want you to know that the quality of your child’s school is more important than what it would cost. All it takes is a little patience and some time.
The following are unusual steps to take to get your child(s) the best school in a new community.

• Inform Your Agent

This is the first thing to do when you are about to move to a new district. This is necessary so that the agent can be on the lookout for good schools alongside looking for a good house. The truth is that these agents are more familiar with the surroundings. They have other clients that have their children in some of these schools and could help you with asking around.
At this point, you should not allow your agent to choose for you. All you need them to do is to provide you with a list of the best schools around say about 3 -5 schools for you to make your choice from. Always remember the final decision is yours to make

• Search The Internet

While your agent is on the search for these schools, you should not relent in your search also. Take time out to carry out your research for the best school in that community. Certain parameters should guide your choice of school such as there academic and professional qualifications, the number of students that graduate every year, amount of time spent into the development of students, etc.

• Visit The Schools

The next thing to do is to visit the schools on your list physically. The intention behind this is to determine if these schools are who they claim to be. Do they have the best learning environment? Are they well equipped? Are the teachers the professionals they claim? Personally, for me, I would prefer you prepare the questions beforehand. Take time out to interact with the teachers and administrative officers. Ensure you know the goals and objective of the school. Do they align with what you are looking for? If they do, then that is the school you are looking for, and if not, you keep looking till you find the best choice.

Keep it in mind that you should not by any means choose any school because of pressure. Take your time out to look for the best school for your children. Remember it is the future of your children we are talking about.